The Digestive System

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What is the primary function of the digestive system?

The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.

Where does digestion begin?

Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is chewed and mixed with saliva, beginning the breakdown of carbohydrates.

Name the enzyme in saliva that breaks down carbohydrates.

The enzyme in saliva that breaks down carbohydrates is called amylase.

What is the role of the stomach in digestion?

The stomach further breaks down food with gastric juices containing acid and enzymes, turning it into a semi-liquid called chyme.

How does the small intestine aid in digestion?

The small intestine absorbs nutrients from food. It uses enzymes and bile to break down food into absorbable molecules.

What is the function of the liver in digestion?

The liver produces bile, which helps digest fats and also detoxifies certain chemicals in the body.

How does bile help in digestion?

Bile aids in the digestion of fats by emulsifying them, making them easier to break down by enzymes.

What role does the pancreas play in digestion?

The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.

Describe the function of the large intestine in the digestive process.

The large intestine absorbs water and salts from the remaining indigestible food matter and forms solid waste for excretion.

What is the significance of the villi in the small intestine?

Villi increase the surface area for absorption, allowing more nutrients to be absorbed by the small intestine.

How are carbohydrates digested and absorbed?

Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars by enzymes and absorbed in the small intestine.

What role does the oral cavity play in digestion?

The oral cavity begins mechanical digestion through chewing and enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates with saliva.

What is the primary role of the esophagus in digestion?

The esophagus transports food from the mouth to the stomach using a series of muscular contractions called peristalsis.

How does the body protect itself from the acidic environment of the stomach?

The stomach lining secretes mucus that protects its walls from acidic gastric juices and enzymes.

Why is nutrient absorption crucial for the body?

Nutrient absorption is essential to provide energy, support growth, repair tissues, and maintain overall health functions.


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1. What is the primary function of the digestive system?

The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair.

To circulate blood throughout the body.

To produce hormones that regulate metabolism.

To transmit nerve signals between organs.

2. Where does digestion begin?

In the stomach.

Digestion begins in the mouth, where food is chewed and mixed with saliva, beginning the breakdown of carbohydrates.

In the large intestine.

In the esophagus.

3. Name the enzyme in saliva that breaks down carbohydrates.

Pepsin.

Lipase.

The enzyme in saliva that breaks down carbohydrates is called amylase.

Trypsin.

4. What is the role of the stomach in digestion?

The stomach further breaks down food with gastric juices containing acid and enzymes, turning it into a semi-liquid called chyme.

It stores nutrients for later use.

It absorbs nutrients directly into the bloodstream.

It initiates carbohydrate digestion.

5. How does the small intestine aid in digestion?

It cools the food before absorption.

The small intestine absorbs nutrients from food. It uses enzymes and bile to break down food into absorbable molecules.

It compacts food waste for elimination.

It neutralizes toxins and bacteria.

6. What is the function of the liver in digestion?

The liver produces bile, which helps digest fats and also detoxifies certain chemicals in the body.

It produces enzymes for carbohydrate digestion.

It filters water from food.

It transports nutrients directly to muscles.

7. How does bile help in digestion?

Bile aids in the digestion of fats by emulsifying them, making them easier to break down by enzymes.

It breaks down proteins into amino acids.

It neutralizes stomach acid.

It transports oxygen in the blood.

8. What role does the pancreas play in digestion?

It grinds food into smaller pieces.

It absorbs water from food waste.

It releases bile into the stomach.

The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.

9. Describe the function of the large intestine in the digestive process.

The large intestine absorbs water and salts from the remaining indigestible food matter and forms solid waste for excretion.

It mixes food with gastric acid.

It is primarily responsible for the digestion of proteins.

It transports nutrients to the bloodstream.

10. What is the significance of the villi in the small intestine?

Villi increase the surface area for absorption, allowing more nutrients to be absorbed by the small intestine.

They transport waste to the large intestine.

They secrete digestive enzymes.

They produce insulin for blood sugar regulation.

11. How are carbohydrates digested and absorbed?

Carbohydrates are absorbed directly into the bloodstream without digestion.

They are digested in the stomach and absorbed in the large intestine.

Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars by enzymes and absorbed in the small intestine.

They are stored in the liver for future use.

12. What role does the oral cavity play in digestion?

The oral cavity begins mechanical digestion through chewing and enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates with saliva.

It absorbs nutrients directly into the blood.

It grinds food using smooth muscle contractions.

It neutralizes acids from food.

13. What is the primary role of the esophagus in digestion?

It mixes food with saliva.

The esophagus transports food from the mouth to the stomach using a series of muscular contractions called peristalsis.

It absorbs nutrients into the bloodstream.

It breaks down proteins with enzymes.

14. How does the body protect itself from the acidic environment of the stomach?

The stomach lining secretes mucus that protects its walls from acidic gastric juices and enzymes.

It neutralizes acid with bile.

It uses enzymes to break down the acid.

It relies on peristalsis to move acid away quickly.

15. Why is nutrient absorption crucial for the body?

It allows the body to store fat efficiently.

Nutrient absorption is essential to provide energy, support growth, repair tissues, and maintain overall health functions.

It helps the body maintain constant temperature.

It supports immune function exclusively.